The Mad King

By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Book Overview

"The Mad King" is a thrilling tale of adventure and mistaken identity set in the fictional European kingdom of Lutha. The novel follows Barney Custer, a young American who travels to the war-torn land only to find himself the physical double of the country's monarch, King Leopold. As he is thrust into the center of a high-stakes political struggle, Barney must navigate a web of betrayal, royal intrigue, and revolutionary fervor.

Along the way, he encounters the beautiful Princess Joan of Lutha, leading to a romance that complicates his survival and his mission to restore order to the kingdom. Blending elements of the Ruritanian romance with the fast-paced action characteristic of Edgar Rice Burroughs' storytelling, the work explores themes of duty, honor, and the nature of leadership. Readers will find a captivating narrative filled with narrow escapes, swordplay, and the classic heroism that defined the early twentieth-century adventure genre. "The Mad King" stands as a testament to Burroughs' versatility beyond his more famous settings, offering a spirited and atmospheric journey through a landscape of shifting loyalties and royal secrets.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025816676
• ISBN13: 9781025816678
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.9" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Burroughs Does Prisoner of Zenda

One of my favorites of ERB's stand-alone novels. The resemblance to The Prisoner of Zenda/Rupert of Hentzau is uncanny, even to the two part structure of the story; one could almost say they were twins. This version of the story, set to the backdrop of pre and early World War I, substitutes an American for an English imposter, but for all intents and purposes this is the same story told in Burrough's style.American, Barney Custer, travelling in Europe visits, Lutha, the homeland of his mother, located near the border of Austria and Serbia. He is instantly caught up in the politics of the two factions within the nation. For those that have not read Prisoner of Zenda, the premise is that the main character bears an almost twin-like resemblance to the nation's king who is being menaced by a rival to the throne, the resulting confusion between the two men and love for the king's betrothed provide the meat of the story plot.The original Prisoner of Zenda is by far the better adult read, as it incorporates more twists and deeper character development. However, for early teens, or just a fun read without the moral agonizing, this is the better choice. P-)

GREAT FUN AND HUMOR

Outstanding read for fun and humor nonf of which is lost in a book over 86 years old. The only book he wrote which is better is the first Tarzan book.

Best of ERB!

If you ever felt Burroughs over-does it a bit, you will love this book. Sorry it's out of print... Set in a tiny European Kingdom moments before WW1, the hero is a little less wild and fantastic than, say, John Carter of Mars. He is still none-the-less, a man of principle, integrity and action - a true ERB hero. I loved it. The basic story follows: A man travels on holiday to his mother's homeland - she always had spoken of how beautiful it was, but otherwise would tell nothing of her past. He quickly finds himself embroiled in political intrigue, fights for survival, not to mention sword-play (it's still ERB, right?) as he is mistaken for... the Mad King. But is the King really mad? Or was the story a fabrication of the evil uncle, who wants to rule? The people of the land think he's a hero... Oh, and of course, there is the heart of a beautiful woman involved. If you like adventure stories, if you like ERB at all, if you can possibly get this book - read it.